Now with Flyers, Tony DeAngelo said he ‘matured a lot’ during his season with Canes
When Tony DeAngelo’s hockey career is over, one year with the Carolina Hurricanes may only be a small slice.
But what an important slice.
A year ago, DeAngelo was considered persona non grata by a lot of NHL teams. His past reputation for trouble and his ugly departure from the New York Rangers after an incident with a teammate left the defenseman’s future in doubt.
Did anyone want this guy? The Hurricanes did.
DeAngelo now belongs to the Philadelphia Flyers after the Canes on Friday traded him during the NHL draft. That came after protracted contract talks with Carolina and the inability to reach an agreement both sides liked.
“We had a lot of talks with Carolina dating back to midway through the season,” DeAngelo said during a video news conference arranged by the Flyers. “We opened up extension discussions and stuff because we had a good year and successful run, even though we fell short in the playoffs.
“It was a place I really liked. I loved playing for Rod Brind’Amour. He’s a fantastic coach. I was definitely interested in staying and they were interested in keeping me, but it was getting to the point we weren’t working anything out.”
A restricted free agent, DeAngelo and his agent, Pat Brisson, were given permission by the Canes to talk with other teams. DeAngelo also said Saturday that he had several talks with Brind’Amour in the past week, hoping something could be arranged with the Hurricanes.
Canes president and general manager Don Waddell said the two sides continued to negotiate until late Thursday night, the first day of the draft. On Friday morning it was announced DeAngelo had been dealt to the Flyers for three draft picks, and it later was reported DeAngelo had signed a two-year contract with Philadelphia that averages $5 million a year.
DeAngelo, a right-hand shooting D-man with offensive flair, is coming off a 51-point season with the Canes – a productive year that jump-started his career again after being bought out and dispatched by the Rangers, playing just six games in the condensed 2021 season.
“He came in and did everything we asked him to do,” Waddell said Friday. “Players liked him, coach liked him.”
DeAngelo joined with Jaccob Slavin on the Canes’ top defensive pairing. He ran the top power-play unit. An aggressive type, he thrived in Brind’Amour’s aggressive pressure style and DeAngelo’s defensive play, which had been suspect before coming to Carolina, improved with Slavin by his side helping keep his emotions in check.
“I don’t think there’s anybody better in the league one on one,” DeAngelo said of Slavin. “We had a lot of man-to-man style there defending, so you’re really covering your own guy. ‘Slavo’ the way he was able to defend was impressive to watch. Best I’ve seen. We had great chemistry and balanced each other out well. It was a great partnership.”
DeAngelo will have a new D partner in Philadelphia. He’ll have a new coach in John Tortorella. Having grown up in South Philly, and with family still there, he feels like he’s coming home to play for his hometown team.
But a year with Carolina and Brind’Amour has him feeling better about his game and how his career now can play out.
“I thought this year I matured a lot,” he said. “I had a year off hockey (after leaving New York), sitting around, waiting to get back in. When I had my opportunity to get back in the league and go to Carolina I just took advantage of it and tried to mature. I still played with that fire and that passion but I held the line on it really well.”
This story was originally published July 9, 2022 at 12:06 PM.
